We were blessed with a sunny day for our visit to Helsinki. At a latitude of 60 degrees north, warm days are at a premium.
Helsinki is locateded on the Gulf of Finland and is spread over several peninsulas and islands (a mere 315), so the central city is rather compact and perfect for walking. If you are interested in visiting the zoo or other attraction that is away from the city center, taking a ferry is the best option. We decided to spend our time in port taking in the sights of the central city. On Sunday morning things are quiet, with shops and restaurants that do open on Sunday unlocking their doors around noon.
The city is a blend of eastern, Russian and western, European influences. On one block is the art deco railway station and up the street is the onion domed Russian Orthodox church. In between you will find McDonalds and restaurants serving everything from traditional Finnish to Nepalese,
We opted to eat lunch at the open air market near the ferry landing. There you could enjoy raindeer meatballs, potatoes and vegetables or deep fried fish – something similar to a sardine, with the same sides. Outdoor dining at market venues isn’t my first choice for eating out. However, given that the restaurant menus we looked made it clear that lunch would run at least $50, spending only $28 for fast food looked very reasonable. Helsinki isn’t the place for a bargain vacation. It is beautiful, so worth the visit, just be prepared for it to be costly.
Next stop St. Petersburg.
